Character generation matrix



Jan. 24, 1967 J. A JOHNSEN CHARACTER GENERATION MATRIX 2 Sheets-SheefZ Filed April 2, 1965 H m E mm L E T 1 13, 3 06,s96 CHARACTERGENERATION: MATRIX.

James A'. Jhnsen,Niles,; Ill assignor. to,;Teletype-Cor- 1 poration, Skoki'e, Ill.,.a corporation-oi?- Delaware Filed.Apr. 2,:1965,Ser.-No. 4l5,'225

This invention 'relatesto a character generation matrix and morepartic'ularly to'acodeable'matr-ix for controlling the generation of telegraph'characters.

In telegraph systems it is fr'e qu ently necessary to generate a plurality of chara cters'in a given, predetermined pattern for example, address codes: Typica-lly1this is done'by connecting some type'of character storage device, such as a matrix, in'-which"rowsin one" direction indicate bits, and columns in another direction indicate characters, to a steppingswitch and'then toatelegraph distributor. The stepping switch connects each character of the matrix to the distributor in sequential fashion and the distributor connects each; bit of the character to a telegraph line in serial fashion. In order that the generation ,of patterns of charactersby the matrix'method may be made economically feasible, it is necessary that the matricesh'employed in such generation be inexpensive and of small size when compared with the telegraph 'apparatus with which they areused.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to lower-the cost of generating patterns of telegraph characters by lowering the cost of the matrices used in such generation.

Another object of this-invention is to provide a telegraph charact'ermatrix which is comprisedof a small number of simple and easily fabricated parts.

A further object of this-invention is to provide-a telegraph character matrix which is of small size when compared with the telegraph appar'atus'with-which it is employed.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention these and other objects are achieved by providing a plurality of printed circuit matrix boardseach of which have a common bus strip on one-of their sides and a plurality of code .st'rips on-the other of theirsi-desl Output connector pins each having two arms are mounted with one of the arms on each side of one of the matrix boards-and in electrical contact with an individual one of the code strips. Code pins, identical in shape to the connector pins, are slidably mounted on the matrix board so that they maybe moved into and out of electrical-contact with the common bus strip and an individual one of the code strips. An electric potential is connected toeach of the common bus strips so that when one of the code pins is in its-actuated position the potential is applied from the common bus strip through code pin and through the associated code strip to one of the connector-pins. When the code pin is in itsnon-actuated position the potential is not connected to the code strip and accordingly, the potential is not connected to the associated connector pin. In this way the connector pins whichcor-respond-to actuated code pins may -be differentiated fromconnector --pinscorresponding to non-actuated code pins.- -Telegraph characters-can be generated by connecting an appropriate group of the connector pins to the segments of a telegraph distributor so that as the brushof the distributor'rotates the connector pins will be. attachedin step-by-step fashion to a'telegraphline. g p

, 3,30,596 Patented Jan. 24, 1967 A further understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction I with the accompanying drawing wherein: FIG. l is an end view of acharacter generation matrix embodying the present invention; 7 p ""FIG. 2 is asecti onal view. taken substantially along the line 2 2'in FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows; FIG. 3A'is'a sectional viewof one of the support blocks talgen th'roughone of the ribs between the pin receiving line 3A3A in FIG. 2 in the direction of 4 the line 3B- -3B in FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4- is a bottom view of one of the matrix boards showing the common bus strip, the connector pins and the code pins, some of which are in the actuated position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged end view of one of the matrix 1 boards taken along the line 55 in FIG. 4 in the direc- Y blocks 11 has formed on one of its surfaces a plurality of stepped, tranversely extending connector pin and code pin receiving channels or slots 12 which are separated one from the other by transverse ribs 13 and also has formed in it a longitudinally extending matrix board support slot 14 which forms a locating or supporting surface. Each of thesupport blocks 11 also has formed on its surface opposite the slots 12 and 14 three longitudinally extending ribs 20 and 40.- As is shown in FIG. 2 the pin receiving channels 13 are partially defined by side walls 15 and 16 of the ribs 13. As is shown in FIG. 3 the pin receiving channels 12 are further defined by an upper surface 17, a lower surface 18 and a second upper surface 19 formed on'the support blocks 11.

Mounted in the channels 12 thus defined are a plurality of connector pins 25 and a plurality of code pins 26. The pins 25 and 26 are identical in configuration and are of rectangular cross-section throughout their length. These pins are of the type commonly used to make electrical contacts to the printed circuit boards in that they are constructed from an electrical conductive material and in that they have a pair of arms 27 which have opposed projections 28 for gripping and making electrical connection with a printed circuit board.

The connector pins 25 are mounted in the channels of the support blocks 11 and are surrounded by the walls 15 and 16 of the ribs 13, the surfaces 17 and 18, and a rib 20 of the support block 11 which is mounted just above (FIG. 1) the block in which the pins are mounted. As is seen in FIGS. 3A-and 3B, leftward movement of the connector pins 25 is prevented by a pair of shoulders 30 and 31 on the support blocks 11. The code pins 26 are mounted s to the right (FIG. 3B) to allow sliding movement of the code pins 26. Rotational movement of the pins 25 and 26 is prevented by the walls 15 and 16 which cooperate with the arms 27 to hold the pins upright.

Mounted in the matrix board support slots 14 of the support blocks 11 are matrix boards or cards 35. As is shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 the matrix boards have on one of their sides a plurality of code strips 36 and have on the other of their sides a common bus strip 37. The matrix boards are constructed from an insulating material such as the materials commonly used in the construction of printed circuit boards. The code strips 36 and the common bus strips 37 are constructed from an electrical conductive material and may be formed on the matrix boards 35 by any of the common techniques for applying conductive material to printed circuit boards.

As is shown in FIG. 2, an individual one of the code strips 36 is in line with each of the channels 12 in the support blocks 11 as defined by the walls 15 and 16. Accordingly, when the matrix boards are positioned in the matrix board support slots 14 and the connector pins are mounted in the channels 12 defined by the Walls 15 and 16, the surfaces 17 and 18 and the ribs 20, the arms 27 of each of the connector pins 25 are located on the opposite sides of one of the matrix boards 35 and one of the projections 28 on the arms 27 of each of the pins 25 is in electrical contact with an individual one of the code strips 36. The connector pins 25 are not, however, in electrical contact with the common bus strip 37 since, as is shown in FIG. 4, the common bus strip 37 is positioned so that the arms 27 cannot extend across the matrix board 35 far enough to bring the projections 28 into contact with the bus strip 37.

The code pins 26 are similarly aligned with an individual one of the code strips 36 by the Walls 15 and 16 of the ribs 13. Since the code pins 26 are mounted for lateral movement they may individually be brought into electrical contact with their respective code strips 36 or may be kept out of electrical contact with their respective code strips according to the desired character to be generated by the character generation matrix 10.

As shown in FIG. when a code pin 26 is moved to its leftmost position the projections 28 of its arms 27 are in electrical contact with the code strip 36 individual to it and with the common bus strip 37. Accordingly, since the connector pins 25 and the code pins26 are formed from an electrical conductive material, whatever electrical potential is present onthe common bus strips 37 will be applied to the connector pins 25 through the code pins 26 and the code strips 36. As is shown in FIG. 3A when a code pin 26 is moved to the right, it is taken out of contact with the matrix board 35 and accordingly, is not in electrical contact with either its respective code strip 36 or the common bus strip 37. Therefore, the electrical potential which is present on the common bus board the second level, etc. Vertical columns of connector pins 25 and code pins 26 are each representative of a different character to be generated. Each vertical column, therefore, contains one character pin and one code pin of each level of the code to be generated and accordingly, contains one set of pins for each bit in the character.

By means of a plurality of power supply pins 41 and an L-shaped projection 42 on each of the bus strips 37 a predetermined electrical potential may be applied to the bus strips. Each of the characters may then be programmed by simply moving the code pins in the character into electrical contact with their respective code strips to represent a marking bit and by moving the pins out of electrical contact with their respective code strips to represent a spacing bit. Thus, any pin moved to the left (FIGS. 3A and 3B and 5) will connect the common bus strip 37 to an associated connector pin 25 and will thereby apply the pre-determined voltage to the character pins. Any code pin which is moved to the right (FIGS. 3A and 3B and 5) will not connect the bus strip to its pin and thus will leave its associatedconnector pin at Zero volts. By this manner the individual characters as represented by vertical rows of code pins may have their individual bits made marking or spacing and may thus be programmed according to any of the well known telegraph codes.

Referring now to FIG. 6 there will be seen a schematic illustration of the device which may be used in conjunction with above-described matrix to generate telepgraph characters. In that figure parts associated with an individual characterare designated by an Arabic numeral representative "of the character whereas parts associated with an individual bit of each of the characters are designated with a Roman numeral representative of the bit. The connector pins 25 of the matrix 10 each have their outputs connected to one station of a multiple bank stepping switch 50. All of the connector pins 25in any given horizontal row, for example, the row 51, are individually connected to different stations around one bank of the stepper switch, for example, the bank 52. The connector pins 25 in any given vertical column, such as the column I located at any given station all of the connector pins ina strip 37 will not be applied to the connector pin 25 which 1 is associated with a code pin 26 which is moved to the right (FIG. 3A).

In use a plurality of support-blocks 11, equal in number to the level of the code to be generated plus one, are vertically stacked and are secured by suitable fasteners which bear against an end plate 39. Between, each of the support blocks 11 a matrix board is mounted in the matrix board support slot 14. The matrix board is secured in the slot 14 by a rib 40 on the support block 11 which is just above the support block 11 in which the matrix board is positioned. Connector pins 25 and code pins 26 are mounted in the channels 12 defined by the walls 15 and 16 and the surfaces 17, 18 and 19 and are secured therein by the ribs 20 of the support block 11 which is just above the support block in which the pins are positioned. Each of the matrix boards represents one level of the code to be generated, for example, the uppermost matrix board in FIG. 1 might represent the first level of a code to be generated, the matrix board just below the uppermost given vertical row are individually connected to one of the wipers of the switch. a

The wipers of the stepper switch are individually connected to. the segments of a telegraph distributor 60. Thus, when the stepper switch is at any given station the connector pins 26 in a given vertical row will each be individually connected through the wipers of the switch 50 to one segment of the distributor and, as the brush of the distributor rotates about its axis, the connector pins 25 of the given row are connected to the telegraph line in serial fashion.

The stepper switch 50 may be stepped from station to station by any of the well known stepping motors, uch as the motor described and shown in the copending ap- A plication of J. L. De B00 and G. B. Lutz, filed December 29, 1964, Serial No. 421,887. When this is done the individual vertical rows of the character generation matrix 10 will be connected in sequential fashion to the individual wipers of the stepper switch and the individual 1 connector pins 25 in any given verticalrow will be '3" and 5) will'not be connected to the bus strip and accordingly; will not apply the potential of the bus'strips to the respective distributor'segment'. In this manner each of the pins 25 may be used to connect either a marking or a spacing" bit to its respective segment of the distributor and accordingly, characters having the various permutation combinations of marking and spacing bits may be generated bythe matrix. v

Although only one embodiment of the invention, is shown in the drawings anddescribed in the foregoing specification, it will be understood that invention is not limited to'the specific embodiment described, but is capable of modification and rearrangement and substitution of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of theinvention. 3 i X 1. A character generation device including:

a plurality of electrical connectors each forming an output for an individual bit in the characters to be generated;

at least one matrix card having a common bus strip and a plurality of code strips each individual to a particular bit in the characters to be generated, each of the connectors being in electrical contact with one of the code strips and being out of electrical contact with the common .bus strip;

a plurality of means for connecting selected ones of the code strips to the common bus strip thereby connecting the bus strip to the connectors which are in contact with the selected code strips and changing the bits individual to the connected code strips from one stateto another; and

means for positioning each of the'eonnecting means in individual association with one of the code strips and for eriabling each of the connecting means for individual movement into and out of electrical connection withiits associated code strip so that each of the hits in the character to be generated can be changed from one state to another.

2. A character generation device including:

a plurality of electrical connectors forming an output array .for the device;

at least-gone matrix card having common bus strip and a plurality of code strips, each of the connectors being in electrical contact with an individual one of the code strips;

a plurality of means for perm-utatively connecting selected ones of the code strips to the common bus strip thereby connecting the bus strip to the connectors which are in contact with the selected code strips;

a first guide block having a surface for supporting the matrix card, having a first plurality of slots for guiding and positioning the connecting means so that they may be moved into and out of contact with the code strips and having a second plurality of slots for supporting the connectors; andv a second guide block having a first rib for cooperation with the surface on the first guide block to support the matrix cards, having a second ri-b for cooperation with the first plurality of slots in the first guide block to guide and position the connecting means and having a third rib for cooperation with the second plurality of slots in the first guide block to support the connectors. 1

3. A device for generating a plurality of different characters each of which is comprised of a given number of bits including:

a plurality of matrix boards each individual to the same bit in each character to be generated;

a plurality of connector strips mounted on the circuit boards and grouped in sets, all the strips on each set being individual to one bit of one of the characters and each strip in a given set being mounted on a different matrix board;

6 at least one common bus strip having a predetermined electrical potential applied to it; and

means for bridging between selected individual strips in each set and the common bus to cause the bridged strips to beat the predetermined potential thereby representing bits of one state and to cause the unbridged strips to be at a different potential thereby representing bits of the opposite state.

"4. A signal generation matrix comprising:

i a pl-ur alityofsupport blocks each having on one of its sides a first plurality of spaced, parallel slots extending in a given direction, a second plurality of spaced, parallel slots extending in the given direction and a locating surface, the first and the second pl-uralities of slots in the support blocks being in substantial, respective alignment with each other, each support block having on another of its sides, a plurality of ribs extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction of both pluralities of slots;

a plurality of matrix boards supported by two adjacent support blocks and each held in contact with the locating surface of one support block by at least one rib of another support block;

a plurality of bifurcated connector pins, each having a pair of arms and each extending through one of the slots of the first plurality of slots of one support block and held therein by at least one rib of another support block, the arms of each of the pins being on opposite sides of one of the matrix boards;

a plurality of encoding strips mounted on the matrix boards and each in electrical contact with an individual one of the connector pins;

a plurality of code pins each having a pair of arms and each slidably extending through one of the slots in the second plurality of slots of one support block for movement into and out of electrical contact with an individual one of the encoding strips, the arms of each of the pins being on opposite sides of one of the matrix boards, and

means for connecting a source of electrical potential of a predetermined magnitude to each of the code pins whenever they are in electrical contact with their respective encoding strips so that the electrical potential will (be applied through the code pins and through the individual encoding strips to the connector pin which is in contact with the encoding strip and so that the electrical potential will not be applied to those connector pins Whose respective encoding strips are not in contact with a code pin.

5. A selectively variable connector assembly comprising:

a plurality of identically shaped support blocks superposed one upon the other, each of said blocks having a longitudinally extending card supporting channel formed in it and a plurality of connector pin and selector pin slots extending transversely of it, said longitudinally extending channel being formed on one side of each block and said pin receiving channels being (formed on the same side of each block;

a circuit card nested in said longitudinally extending channel and having a common connector element on one of its surfaces and a plurality of individual c0nnector elements on its opposite surface;

a connector pin in fixed relation to said individual connector elements; and

code pins mounted in the pin slots of the support blocks for slidable movement to selectively interconnect the common connector element on a card to the individual connector elements on the opposite surface of the card.

6. A connector block assembly including:

a plurality of connector supporting cards each having two sides;

one side of each of the cards;

7. at least one electrically conductive common strip mounted 0n the other side. of at least one of said cards; and a plurality of bifurcated pins each individually slidably movable with respect to the cards and each having one of its arms engagea'ble with one side of one of the cards and having the other of its arms engagea-hle with the other side of the same card, said pins mounted for individual slidable movement with respect to the cards to bring an individual one of the strips into electrical connection with the common strip.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATESPATENTS Adam. Siegmund. Isserstedt. Roggenstein. Dix. Wred'e et a1. Bell et al.

15 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

T. MACBLAIN, SPRINGBORN, Assfs'rtznt Examiners. 

1. A CHARACTER GENERATION DEVICE INCLUDING: A PLURALITY OF ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS EACH FORMING AN OUTPUT FOR AN INDIVIDUAL BIT IN THE CHARACTERS TO BE GENERATED; AT LEAST ONE MATRIX CARD HAVING A COMMON BUS STRIP AND A PLURALITY OF CODE STRIPS EACH INDIVIDUAL TO A PARTICULAR BIT IN THE CHARACTERS TO BE GENERATED, EACH OF THE CONNECTORS BEING IN ELECTRICAL CONTACT WITH ONE OF THE CODE STRIPS AND BEING OUT OF ELECTRICAL CONTACT WITH THE COMMON BUS STRIP; A PLURALITY OF MEANS FOR CONNECTING SELECTED ONES OF THE CODE STRIPS TO THE COMMON BUS STRIP THEREBY CONNECTING THE BUS STRIP TO THE CONNECTORS WHICH ARE IN CONTACT WITH THE SELECTED CODE STRIPS AND CHANGING THE BITS INDIVIDUAL TO THE CONNECTED CODE STRIPS FROM ONE STATE TO ANOTHER; AND MEANS FOR POSITIONING EACH OF THE CONNECTING MEANS IN INDIVIDUAL ASSOCIATION WITH ONE OF THE CODE STRIPS AND FOR ENABLING EACH OF THE CONNECTING MEANS FOR INDIVIDUAL MOVEMENT INTO AND OUT OF ELECTRICAL CONNECTION WITH ITS ASSOCIATED CODE STRIP SO THAT EACH OF THE BITS IN THE CHARACTER TO BE GENERATED CAN BE CHANGED FROM ONE STATE TO ANOTHER. 